Rishon Chimboza has taken up the role of Director of Government Relations and Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, marking a significant career move into one of the world’s most influential technology companies.
Chimboza announced the appointment on LinkedIn, expressing enthusiasm for the new chapter. “Today, I start my new role as the Director of Government Relations and Public Policy for Sub Saharan Africa at TikTok,” he wrote. “Working with one of the most transformative companies of our generation, I’m looking forward to driving meaningful engagement with the African continent.”
He expressed gratitude to past and future colleagues, mentors, friends and family who have supported and challenged him throughout his career.
Rishon Chimboza brings more than 15 years of experience in government relations, public policy, strategic communications and advisory work across Africa. Immediately prior to joining TikTok, he served at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where he held successive leadership roles over five years.
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These included Special Advisor for African Investment and Global Engagement , Managing Director for Africa , and Executive Director for Africa . He also briefly led Technology Partnerships at the Institute in early 2021.
Before that, Chimboza worked as an independent contractor providing advisory services to multinational companies and multilateral agencies in East and Southern Africa, focusing on the agriculture, mining and infrastructure sectors.
He served as Kenya Country Lead and Group Head of Extractive Industries at africapractice, managing teams that advised major investors across financial services, healthcare, ICT, agriculture and manufacturing, while overseeing the firm’s mining sector portfolio.
His earlier career included several senior roles at Adam Smith International. These encompassed Deputy Team Leader of the Extractives Hub, Project Director of the Agriculture Technical Assistance Facility in Rwanda, Head of Mining, Oil and Gas for East and Southern Africa, and advisory positions supporting investment promotion in Mozambique and post-Ebola recovery efforts in Sierra Leone. He also served as Ministerial Communications Advisor on Kenya’s Extractive Industries Development Program.
Chimboza’s foundational experience came during nearly eight years at Africa Practice (2007–2015), where he rose to General Manager for Southern Africa and Country Manager for Zimbabwe and South Africa. In that capacity, he advised clients across mining, ICT, financial services, agriculture and other regulated sectors on government relations, political risk and strategic communications.
With deep expertise spanning public policy, diplomacy, extractives, investment promotion and multi-country program management, Chimboza is expected to strengthen TikTok’s engagement with governments and stakeholders across Sub-Saharan Africa as the platform continues to expand its presence on the continent.
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